Thomas j



(No Model.)

Ta J. WEAVER. SELF LUBRICATING AXLE.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

THOMAS J. VEVER, OF COLUMBIANA, ALABAMA.

SELF-LUBRICATING AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,451, dated May 6, 1890;

Application filed November l2, 1889. Serial No. 330,002. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be `it known that I, THoMAs'J. WEAVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbiana, in the county of Shelby, and State ot' Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Lubricating Axles and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to self-lubricating vehicle-axles; and my object isto provide more efficient and durable means for accomplislr ing this end than have hitherto been known.

With this purpose in View my invention consists in certain peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, more fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring` to the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a longitudinal section of my improved axle, and Fig. 2 a detail view of the sponge and attachments.

The reference-letter A indicates the mainY portion of the axle, which is preferably made hollow throughout and serves as a reservoir for the oil. Apertures c ct are formed in this portion of the axle, through which the oil or other lubricant is introduced. These holes are made near the spindles in Vcase the axle may not be hollow throughout or may be bent, and they are provided with taps c a', which effectually close them and prevent the oil f rom escaping. The spindles B are also made hollow and are provided on their outer ends with nuts l, which have solid heads, and bowl-shaped cavities c c in their inner ends. A sponge D or like absorbent material is placed within the spindle, and a wire d passes through said sponge, being bent at either end into rings c. NVashers or disks c, preferably made of leather, are interposed on said wire between the sponge and rings e and serve to preserve the shape of the sponge and prevent it from swelling laterally. The outer wire ring projects into the inner cavity of the nut,A

while the inner one enters the hollow axlebody. The sponge can be readily withdrawn from the spindle by means of the ring e when it is desired to replace it or for any other purpose. Small perforations Z) b are made in the spindles, through which the oil oozes to lubricate the axle.

The preferred mode of constructing my device having been set forth, Iwill now describev its operation. The hollow axle-body is irst filled with oil, which then runs into the hollow spindle, and swells thesponge until it iills and tightly iits the spindle. IVhen the vehicle is in motion, the axle-box, revolving around the spindle, causes the oil to ooze through the perforations h and lubricate the axle. closes the perforations and stops the flow of oil. By this arrangement the axle will lubricate itself luntil all the oil in the hollow axlebody is exhausted, when it can be refilled through the apertures c a.

It is evident that many slight variations in the construction and arrangement of parts of my invention might be resorted to without departing` from its spirit and scope; hence I do not coniine myself to the precise construction shown; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*- l. In a self-lubricating axle, the combination of a hollow spindle provided with perforations, a sponge or like absorbent material arranged to iill said spindle, and disks for confining said sponge, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a self-lubricating axle, the combination of a hollow spindle having perforations, a sponge or like absorbent material arranged to be placed within said spindle, disks of suitable material for coniining said sponge, and a wire or rod passing through said sponge and said disks and confining the same in place, substantially as described.

3. In a self-lubricating axle, the combina tion of a hollow spindle having perforations, a sponge arranged to fill said spindle, a wire passing through said sponge, disks on said Then the vehicle stops, the axle-box Wire, and rings formed at opposite ends of and said rings, and nuts foielosing the ends io the Wire for confining said disks, substanof said spindle and having hollow inner ends,

nially as described. as and for the purpose described.

4. In L self-lubricating axle, the eoinbinn- In testimony whereof Iafiix inysignatulein 5 tion of a hollow` axle-spindle having perfompresence of two Witnesses.

tions, a sponge or like absorbent material to v THOMAS 'J. VEAVER. ll said spindle, aJ Wire passing through said W'itnesses: sponge, rings formed at either end of said SHELBY XV. NELSON, Wire, disks interposed between said sponge JAMES L. VANDIVER. 

